Problem
Hypothetical Situation 1: Stanley and Matt work together in the public affairs department of the Frump Organization. Matt is Stanley's immediate supervisor and has been supportive of Stanley's rise through the Frump Organization ranks. Stanley is aware that Matt con?nually makes romantic and sexual advances toward some of the women working in the public affairs department, who are supervised by Mat. The women are afraid to say anything about the advances, which they do not appreciate and want stopped. Several of the women confront Stanley one day, tell him about the advances and ask him to do what he can to get them to stop. Steve then goes to Mattfs immediate supewisor, Erin Frump. with whom he has a good working relationship and who is the daughter of the Frump Organization CEO. Erin is concerned that, if Stanley took the matter further and Matt was fired or even disciplined, the public affairs department and the Frump Organization would suffer a serious loss. Everyone in the Frump Organization knows that Matt is masterful in handling the press and in getting the CEO signi?cant free media publicity. Erin told Stanley not to take the matter further and to get the women not to press the matter, even though the conduct is illegal and contrary to the written Frump Organization policy.
Questions for Analysis and Discussion:
a) What are some ethical considerations that Stanley needs to make?
b) What ethics traps does Stanley face?
c) Would a deontological analysis lead to a different ethical analysis and conclusion than a utilitarian analysis?
d) What might be the conclusion if Stanley applied the Front Page test?